Help needed taking out hex screws

[Lawrence001]

I've got to remove 3 screws from a tweeter plate, I've tried using my cheap hex key set and one has come out but the others have started to wear down, so I've stopped trying. Any advice? It's possible they are metric as they are European, could my hex key set be imperial? Or just too cheap? This is a pretty important job for a very nice pair of endgame speakers. Thanks for any advice.

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[YNWaN]

Well, it is very unlikely they are not metric. I would buy a new set of metric allen keys and try them.

[Bigman80]

Push the Allen key in through a rubber band. That usually helps for me

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[Mr Kipling]

You can get Metric & Imperial sets combined off eBay & Amazon from £5.

Handy to have.

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[Beobloke]

You can get Metric & Imperial sets combined off eBay & Amazon from £5.


You can indeed, and I would advise anyone who does any of this sort of repair work on a regular basis NOT TO!

Allen keys are particuarly susceptible to poor manufacuring and this is, sadly, an inevitability at these low prices. The problem is worse the smaller they get and, over the years I must have got through dozens of small keys which gradually wore down, bent or even snapped.

Three years ago, I decided enough was enough and spent £30 on a proper set of 30 - 15 metric and 15 imperial. It was one of the best decisions I've made.

[struth]

If u use tools a lot its well worth buying good ones. They last for ever, and generally dont damage the job. Ive still got a few of my apprentice tools

[brian2957]

Yup , I've still got a few of my Snap-on tools from my apprenticeship .

[Lawrence001]

Thanks, good advice about the rubber band. I was thinking about getting a set that drop into the screwdriver I've got that takes hex/torx attachments etc but the issue is these screws take the second smallest key of the set (pretty small) and all the attachments I've seen are of the larger more common type.

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[Pharos]

I've used a whole range and the best by far are Bondhus, American high quality and six times tougher than most.

[Mr Kipling]

You can indeed, and I would advise anyone who does any of this sort of repair work on a regular basis NOT TO!

Allen keys are particuarly susceptible to poor manufacuring and this is, sadly, an inevitability at these low prices. The problem is worse the smaller they get and, over the years I must have got through dozens of small keys which gradually wore down, bent or even snapped.

Three years ago, I decided enough was enough and spent £30 on a proper set of 30 - 15 metric and 15 imperial. It was one of the best decisions I've made.

True, Adam. Can't really argue with you.

I got a decent set years (decades) ago. I lost track if they were metric or imperial. More often than not, they didn't fit whatever I wanted them for. So I got another set a couple of years ago - which turned out to be the same. So, I saw a set of both on eBay and thought, "Go on. They're only a fiver." Used them only a few times, but been OK.

Was it one of the best decisions you've EVER made, Adam? Or just in a general sense? One of the best decisions I've ever made was to try, out of curiosity, more than anything, Walker's Marmite chrisps. Scrumdiddlyumtious, they are, Adam. Yes, one of my better decisions.

Anyway, you're a man of the Hi-Fi World, how would you rate your Technics SL-P1200?





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[walpurgis]

Good tools and the right tools are essential.

As for 'Snap On', I bought a largish and fairly costly hex driver head and it was more a case of 'Snap Off'. Bloody useless thing!

[Stratmangler]

Good tools and the right tools are essential.

As for 'Snap On', I bought a largish and fairly costly hex driver head and it was more a case of 'Snap Off'. Bloody useless thing!

They have a completely open replacement scheme.
You break it, they'll replace it.
Doesn't matter how old it is.

I'll bet you whizzed it, didn't you? :lol:

[Stratmangler]

I have a couple of sets of Bondhus Allen keys, one metric, one Imperial.
They invented the rounded end key.
Buy well, buy once.

[walpurgis]

I'll bet you whizzed it, didn't you? :lol:

Wot dat mean?

[Stratmangler]

Wot dat mean?

Threw it in the bin.

[omsoc]

Use a good quality hex key if possible and once it is in the screw head give it a gentle couple of taps with a SMALL hammer to fully seat it in the head.
Then instead of trying to loosen (anti-clockwise for muppets :eek:) try to tighten it a TINY amount before reverting back to loosening it.
This will help you to not damage the hex socket faces that take the loosening load while trying to overcome the initial sticksion (you often hear a click sound) ans should reduce the force required to undo the screw...hopefully the head is not already too damaged.

[omsoc]

P.S. Don't use a round headed key

[Pharos]

Isn't the round head only for quickly screwing the excess length of a screw, and not meant for final torque?

[walpurgis]

P.S. Don't use a round headed key

Quite right. It's a pretty pointless tool for hand work. You need the maximum contact area between driving and driven faces.

[Stratmangler]

I see you good folk haven't worked out how to use a search engine yet.
http://www.bondhus.com/index.html

[walpurgis]

I see you good folk haven't worked out how to use a search engine yet.
http://www.bondhus.com/index.html

Yes. I have a similar set, but avoid using them as a rule.

[Stratmangler]

Yes. I have a similar set, but avoid using them as a rule.

Did you watch the video?
With the sets I have, the ball end is on the low torque end (ie the long section).
Is your similar set accurately made, and does it come with an unlimited lifetime warranty? Mine do.

[walpurgis]

Is your similar set accurately made, and does it come with an unlimited lifetime warranty? Mine do.

1) I have no idea, I don't use them.

2) Probably not, but they wont wear out or break, as I don't use them.

:D

[Stratmangler]

1) I have no idea, I don't use them.

2) Probably not, but they wont wear out or break, as I don't use them.

:D

:doh:

[Beobloke]

Was it one of the best decisions you've EVER made, Adam? Or just in a general sense? One of the best decisions I've ever made was to try, out of curiosity, more than anything, Walker's Marmite chrisps. Scrumdiddlyumtious, they are, Adam. Yes, one of my better decisions.

Anyway, you're a man of the Hi-Fi World, how would you rate your Technics SL-P1200?



I quite agree that Marmite walkers crisps are a good decision, as I have also made this myself. However, an even better one was Burt's Guinness flavour - absolutely stonking!

As to the SL-P1200, I like it. It's a bit ragged up the top end but it's a fun listen, the bass is superb and it's such a lovely thing to use. Ultimately, my Marantz CD-94 does better it considerably in sonic terms, though.

[Lawrence001]

Thanks for all the advice guys, as usual an apparently very innocuous question about what seems a rather minor issue raises a good debate!

I think I've been a bit stupid as having looked closer at the bolts in better light there are little raised dots on the inside, I'm wondering if they are actually torx or a similar type and my hex key just happened to work ok on the slightly less tight one. I've been told about a company called Clerkenwell screws so I might take that one in to them to see what it is.

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[YNWaN]

Oh, you can buy both hex and Torx as security screws with raised pins in the centre that require a hollow bit to remove them. If you take a decent picture with your phone camera (assuming you have one) and post it I (we) can tell you what it is.

[Lawrence001]

No these have little dots around the inner edge of the hole, I'll try and add a pic

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[Lawrence001]

I've had a look at the other side and I can't see the dots, so I'm wondering if the hex key has made those marks..https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170724/8fcb08707dbcb4252073677955682a0a.jpg

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[Lawrence001]

Struggling with the phone camera, but an back to thinking they are hex.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170724/2a359106093c9a647c33c706cf2d87e1.jpg

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[YNWaN]

Yes, they are just plain hex. As you suspect, I agree that you have likely made the silvery dots you mention.

[sq225917]

Buy some Wiha Hex Plus keys. Bondhus are ok, but Wiha are better. Measurably more able to deliver torque before stripping a head.